Washing machine



Dec. 31, WRIGHT WASHINGYMACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1954 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STAT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines, and has for its object the provision of a very inexpensive machine which may be easily manipulated and is especially advantageous in washing small clothes or other articles. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fu ly set forth and defined.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of a washing machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective viewof the agitator or stirrer.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a container I which is preferably of vertically corrugated metal and is cylindrical in form, a cover 2 being provided to fit snugly upon the container so that when it is in use the liquid contents will not be permitted to splash over the person or clothing of the user. A handle 3 is also provided and is hingedly mounted upon the sides of the container so that the device may be easily moved from place to place as circumstances may suggest or require. In the center of the bottom 4 of the container is provided a post or stud 5 which, in the present instance, is shown as a headed bolt having a nut 6 mounted thereon to be turned home against the inner surface of ,the bottom so that the stud will be firmly secured in place. Fitting around the stud and resting on the nut is a hollow post or shaft 1 which extends through a bushing 8 secured centrally in the cover and extending therethrough, it being noted that the cover is provided with a central strap handle 9 and the bushing is secured in the wall ofthe cover and in said handle by welding or otherwise so that it will provide a bearing for the shaft 1 which will resist distortion of the shaft. A stirrer or agitator is carried by the lower end of the shaft 1 and this agitator consists of a disc I!) having blades H disposed radially on its upper side and united with a central hub I2. The blades and the disc, together with the hub l2, are preferably an integral casting of aluminum and the hub is provided with internal threads, asshown in Figure 1, whereby it may be readily engaged with the lower end of the shaft, the bore of the shaft, however, being smooth so that, while it may readily fit over the upper end of the bolt or stud 5 and thereby be retained centrally within the container, it may rotate readily about the stud without damaging any of the threads thereon. In its upper end, the shaft is formed with an openended diametrical be engaged by a cross pin M in the forked end l5 notch I3 which is adapted to.

of a handle I6, a knob I! being provided upon the outer end of the handle to be grasped by the operator.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simplemachine which may be produced at a very low cost and which is efiicient for washing small articles of clothing, particularly infants clothing, and is very desirable for use by camping parties. In use the articles to be washed are placed in the container, together with the proper cleaning agents and the lid then placed over the container whereupon the handle I6 is oscillated to produce an oscillation or vibration of the agitator within the container so that the clothes 5 will be thoroughly agitated and the cleaning agents forced through them, the corrugations in the side of the container assisting materially in the agitation. The device may be also used for dry cleaning, in which event the inner surface of the container and all the surfaces of the agitator should be thoroughly cleaned and dried before the cleaning agent is placed in the container, as any drops of water which may be present will be apt to spot the articles which are subjected to the cleaning process. The action in dry cleaning is the same as in washing, the articles being placed in the container which is then closed and the agitator then oscillated.

When it is desired to clean the machine, the handle is merely lifted ofi the upper end of the shaft whereby the cover may be drawn up over the end of the shaft and the shaft and agitator removed from the container. After the parts have been cleaned or any required repairs have been made, a reverse treatment of the several parts will quickly assemble them in operative relation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A washing machine comprising a container, a cover therefor, a shaft journaled centrally in the cover and having its lower end rotatably supported in the container, an agitator carried by the lower end of the shaft, and a handle detachably fitted to the upper end of the shaft, the shaft having an open-ended notch across its upper end and the handle having an opening to be engaged around the end of the shaft and a cross pin in said opening to seat in the notch in the shaft.

2. A washing machine comprising a container, a removable cover for said container, an upwardly bowed strap handle extending diametrically over the central portion of the cover, a bushing extending vertically between the handle and ing vertically in the container with its upper cover centrally thereof with its end portions exend portion journaled through the bushing and handle and cover and firmly secured, the handle an agitator carried by said shaft, and a handle 5 serving as a brace for the bushing and as a detachably engaged with the upper end of the 5 hand hold for lifting the cover, a central stud on shaft.

the bottom of the container, a shaft extend- JOHN A. WRIGHT. [1..s.] 

